Wheeled Patents (Class 446/95)
  • Patent number: 11052323
    Abstract: Described is an apparatus for building a junk model, comprising an elongate member (118) attachable to a junk model body (106) and having a first end region and a second end region; a first attachment portion (130) for attaching a first surface engaging element (114) to the first end region; and a second attachment portion (132) for attaching a second surface engaging element (116) to the second end region; wherein the elongate member is selectively adjustable in length to set a distance between the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion. A kit of parts and method of building a junk model are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: LASER BEAM EYES LIMITED
    Inventor: Peter David Rope
  • Patent number: 10821602
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a robot comprises a movable base and a torso arranged on the base. The torso comprises a first portion mounted to the base; a second portion installed to the first portion, wherein the second portion could be moved relative to the first portion; and a support substantially connected to the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: AEOLUS ROBOTICS CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Sheng-Chia Chen, Sheng-Chih Lin, Chia-Chun Li
  • Patent number: 10751634
    Abstract: A wheel well system and method for a model vehicle are provided. The wheel well system may include a wheel well apparatus having a wheel well configured to fit within a wheel well recess of a model vehicle body. The wheel well comprising body attachment bores, support member bores. The wheel well apparatus may include a support member configured to couple to the wheel well. The wheel well system may also have two wheel wells configured to fit within wheel well recesses and a support member attached to the two wheel wells. The two wheel wells are configured to fixedly couple to the model vehicle body via the body attachment bores. The method may include providing a wheel well fixedly coupled to a support member and fixedly coupling the wheel well to a model vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: TRAXXAS LP
    Inventor: Jonathan Scott Wood
  • Patent number: 9561805
    Abstract: A chassis front assembly, a chassis rear assembly and a chassis intermediate assembly are disclosed. The chassis front assembly and the chassis rear assembly are connected to the chassis intermediate assembly for forming a chassis. A kit is also disclosed. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Keith Masserang, Joshua J. Hicks, Lawrence J. Lawson, Barry A. Clark
  • Publication number: 20150093956
    Abstract: A propulsion system for a vehicle or toy vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises rotary drive means for driving the vehicle along ground, the rotary drive means operating in a plane and having a peripheral ground-engagement part. The system further comprises a rotor comprising one or more rotor blades rotatable about a rotor axis for producing thrust, wherein the rotary drive means and the rotor are positioned relative to each other so that during rotation of the rotor, the rotor blades pass through the plane of the rotary drive means, inside the peripheral ground-engagement part. In this way, the rotor blades are protected by the peripheral ground-engagement part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Witold MIELNICZEK
  • Patent number: 8641473
    Abstract: The custom motorcycle toys having interchangeable swing arms includes a series of toy motorcycles in which the rear end includes removable swing arms that can be exchanged with interchangeable rear tires so as to further customize the motorcycle. The front tire and rear tire can both rotate to enable movement of the toy motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventor: Jeremiah Murray
  • Patent number: 8579674
    Abstract: A mobile toy which is propelled by a flywheel is described. The mobile toy includes a body member having a set of protrusions which extend beyond the body member. An axle extending through the flywheel is positioned in the set of protrusions, such that each protrusion operates as an axle cap. Alternatively, a set of axle caps are formed at the end of the axle. The flywheel is formed as a displaceable flywheel which is repositionable or removable from the body member. The flywheel may be adjusted within the mobile toy at multiple positions relative to the mobile toy for use of the mobile toy on multiple types of surfaces and for various play configurations. A set of detachably attachable extension elements attached with the axle caps alter the appearance as well as the play capabilities of the mobile toy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel Carlson, Michael Bernstein, Dominic Laurienzo, Dion Fields
  • Patent number: 8534394
    Abstract: The power brick assembly includes a solar energy collecting plate carried on a carrier for collecting solar energy to generate electrical energy. A first connecting port is mounted on the carrier so that the carrier is movable relative to the first connecting port. A mechanical rotary power generating unit includes a second connecting port mounted on a brick-like casing and connected electrically and detachably to the first connecting port so that the first connecting port is movable relative to the second connecting port. The brick-like casing receives a battery module for supplying electric power, a driving module for generating a mechanical rotary power output in response to an electric power input, and a control module operable to output the electric power input based on one of the electrical energy from the solar energy collecting plate and the electric power from the battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Inventor: Wen-Pin Lin
  • Patent number: 8435094
    Abstract: A modular toy vehicle design having a universal mating system between the body of the vehicle and the chassis such that multiple body styles will interchangeably mate with multiple chassis designs and where electrical interfaces are automatically established between the body and the chassis simply by mating and aligning the two together. The design allows for an electrical connection to be made in the process of mechanically mating and aligning the body of a toy vehicle to its chassis thereby powering electronic features that are physically connected to the body with the power source which is housed in the chassis. When the body is properly aligned and mounted, the electrical interfaces are automatically established. There is no separate step of plugging together mating connectors where one connector extends from a wire bundle electrically interfacing with the body and the mating connector extends from a separate wire bundle electrically interfacing with the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Ridemakerz, LLC
    Inventors: Donald W. Amadio, James V. Mendillo, Yuk Kei Chan
  • Patent number: 8430710
    Abstract: A toy vehicle set is provided having a toy automobile including an accessible compartment and defining an underside. A toy automobile component extends from the underside. A lift includes at least one post. The post engages the underside and a ground surface in a configuration to raise the toy automobile a predetermined distance from the ground surface such that the at least one toy automobile component is accessible for interaction during imaginative play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventors: JoAnn K. Woessner, Pamela L. Schwarte
  • Patent number: 8348715
    Abstract: A transformable toy which is transformed without any direct touching by a user, displays visual information that is invisible before the form of the toy is changed, and has a game element in addition to the form change is provided. A transformable toy reversibly transformed between a first form and a second form includes a toy main body which changes its form to form the first form and the second form, a restricting mechanism which restricts the form change of the toy main body, and a transformation activating body for detecting physical stimulation from outside and releasing the restriction by the restricting mechanism. The toy main body includes a display body having visual information thereon, and the display body is disposed at such a position that the visual information of the display body is invisible to a user in the first form while the visual information of the display body is visible to the user in the second form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tomy Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoya Miyake
  • Patent number: 8244402
    Abstract: A robotic system includes a humanoid robot with robotic joints each moveable using an actuator(s), and a distributed controller for controlling the movement of each of the robotic joints. The controller includes a visual perception module (VPM) for visually identifying and tracking an object in the field of view of the robot under threshold lighting conditions. The VPM includes optical devices for collecting an image of the object, a positional extraction device, and a host machine having an algorithm for processing the image and positional information. The algorithm visually identifies and tracks the object, and automatically adapts an exposure time of the optical devices to prevent feature data loss of the image under the threshold lighting conditions. A method of identifying and tracking the object includes collecting the image, extracting positional information of the object, and automatically adapting the exposure time to thereby prevent feature data loss of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: James W. Wells, Neil David Mc Kay, Suhas E. Chelian, Douglas Martin Linn, Charles W. Wampler, II, Lyndon Bridgwater
  • Patent number: 8216020
    Abstract: A vehicle reconfigurable between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration includes a body having opposing upper and lower parts extending between lateral sides and ends of the body. A first wheel and a second wheel are each operatively mounted to the body to at least partially support the body for movement. A first suspension assembly and a second suspension assembly pivotally connect each wheel to the body and a linkage assembly connects the body to each wheel. The linkage assembly is adapted to pivot each wheel with respect to the body. A linear compression bias member is mounted between the upper and lower parts of the body to bias the upper part of the body away from the lower part of the body. The vehicle transforms from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration by compression of the upper part and lower part together to actuate the linkage and compress the linear compression bias member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: Red Blue Limited, N.Z. Nachman Zimet Ltd.
    Inventor: Nachman Haim Zimet
  • Patent number: 8105127
    Abstract: A log based building system including a plurality of logs having different lengths and a square cross section; at least one connector having an opening sized to slide over an end of a stack of at least two logs and thereby clamp the at least two logs together. The two logs can include notches that allow a third log to be clamped in place by the connector, this arrangement allows for building toys with long reach arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Christian Heston
  • Patent number: 8066542
    Abstract: A transformable toy which can be automatically transformed despite the fact that members are merely pivotably connected as in conventional transformable toys is provided. The transformable toy, which is transformed from a box-like configuration to a robot configuration, is vertically and longitudinally divided into two parts, when in the box-like configuration, includes an upper front member, an upper rear member, a lower front member, and a lower rear member, and has a frame disposed therein for supporting the above members. The upper front member and the upper rear member are each pivotably connected to the frame directly, or through a link, and are foldably connected with each other. The connecting portion between the frame and the upper rear member has an elastic member for urging the upper front member and the upper rear member in a direction to be folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Tomy Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takio Ejima
  • Patent number: 8011992
    Abstract: A transformable toy which can be automatically transformed despite its appearance in which members are merely pivotably connected as in conventional transformable toys is provided. Front end portions of a first base member and a second base member, as well as rear end portions of the first and second base members, are pivotably connected by first and second link members, respectively. The second base member is urged by an elastic force of a first elastic member, provided on at least one connecting portion, to move forwardly with respect to the first base member. Figure members expressing states differing between first and second configurations are connected to the first base member and the first link member. Connecting portions of figure members have second elastic members acting against the elastic force of the first elastic member and having an elastic force set to be smaller than that of the first elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Tomy Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takio Ejima
  • Publication number: 20110081824
    Abstract: A log based building system including a plurality of logs having different lengths and a square cross section; at least one connector having an opening sized to slide over an end of a stack of at least two logs and thereby clamp the at least two logs together. The two logs can include notches that allow a third log to be clamped in place by the connector, this arrangement allows for building toys with long reach arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventor: Christian Heston
  • Patent number: 7896724
    Abstract: A modular toy vehicle design having a universal mating system between the body of the vehicle and the chassis such that multiple body styles will interchangeably mate with multiple chassis designs and where electrical interfaces are automatically established between the body and the chassis simply by mating and aligning the two together. The design allows for an electrical connection to be made in the process of mechanically mating and aligning the body of a toy vehicle to its chassis thereby powering electronic features that are physically connected to the body with the power source which is housed in the chassis. When the body is properly aligned and mounted, the electrical interfaces are automatically established. There is no separate step of plugging together mating connectors where one connector extends from a wire bundle electrically interfacing with the body and the mating connector extends from a separate wire bundle electrically interfacing with the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ridemakerz, LLP
    Inventors: Donald W. Amadio, James V. Mendillo, Yuk Kei Chan
  • Patent number: 7880414
    Abstract: A control and motor arrangement in accordance with the present invention includes a motor configured to generate a locomotive force for propelling the model train. The control and motor arrangement further includes a command control interface configured to receive commands from a command control unit wherein the commands correspond to a desired speed. The control and motor arrangement still further includes a plurality of detectors configured to detect speed information of the motor, and a process control arrangement configured to receive the speed information from the sensors. The process control arrangement is further configured and arranged to generate a plurality of motor control signals based on the speed information for controlling the speed of said motor. The control and motor arrangement yet still further includes a motor control arrangement configured to cause power to be applied to the motor at different times in response to the motor control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Lionel L.L.C.
    Inventors: Dennis J. Denen, Neil P. Young, Gary L. Moreau, Martin Pierson, Robert Grubba
  • Patent number: 7780500
    Abstract: A ride-on activity device is disclosed, wherein the device includes a seat, a base and a connector for movably connecting the seat relative to the base. The connection between the seat and the base allows multiple degrees of freedom such that the seat is capable of bouncing and rotating relative to the base. The connection between the seat and the connector includes a rotation safety mechanism that allows rotation at the connection when the seat is occupied by a user and prevents rotation at the connection when the seat is unoccupied. Furthermore, the connector includes a resilient member that allows the seat to bounce vertically relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Sonner, Patrick Ritossa
  • Patent number: 7717767
    Abstract: A toy vehicle design having two distinctly different methods to attach accessories. Accessories that attach to the front, sides, rear and bottom of the vehicle can connect to the chassis via a tab and slot system. Strategically positioned slots on the chassis undercarriage can accept tabs that extend from those accessories. The various accessories can be interchangeable and can be easily attached and removed without the need for tools. For front, side, rear and bottom fitting accessories, slots can be located along the outer perimeter of the vehicle chassis' undercarriage. The accept tabs can extend from the various accessories. Accessories that attach to the hood, roof and truck beds, magnets are built into the underside of the vehicle body with magnets of the opposite polarity attached to the inside of the accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Ridemakerz, LLC
    Inventors: Donald W. Amadio, James V. Mendillo, Yuk Kei Chan
  • Patent number: 7597174
    Abstract: An anti-deflection structure for a chassis of a remote-controlled car includes a board which is added below a central differential gear at a center of a chassis, to strengthen a rigid structure of the chassis. A center of the board is provided with a hollow part for emplacing a gear set of the central differential gear, and an exterior side of the hollow part is provided with a plurality of pivoting holes. The pivoting holes correspond to through-holes on the chassis for locking the central differential gear, thereby locking and fixing the board. In addition, the hollow part is locked at columns of the central differential gear by transfixing screws from bottom to top into the pivoting holes and the through-holes. On the other hand, front and rear ends of the board provide for connection of two support arms, thereby constituting the anti-deflection structure for the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Inventor: Daimler Chu
  • Publication number: 20090209166
    Abstract: A corrugated cardboard constructible toy has a set of recyclable shipping boxes and comprises an outer box that in its entirety forms a main part of the toy besides temporary uses for shipping the toy to and from a toy user. One or more inner boxes of corrugated fiberboard are contained in the outer box during shipping and then deployed to mate with the outer box to provide a subassembly of the toy with a predetermined rigidity. Auxiliary forms of corrugated fiberboard for mating with the outer and inner boxes to selectively support the toy subassembly as it differentiates into a model figure or building for a child to actively play on or in. A number of dowel fasteners may penetrate walls of the fiberboard to maintain the integrity of the toy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Samuel Chen
  • Patent number: 7568962
    Abstract: A modular toy vehicle design having a universal mating system between the body of the vehicle and the chassis such that multiple body styles will interchangeably mate with multiple chassis designs and where electrical interfaces are automatically established between the body and the chassis simply by mating and aligning the two together. The design allows for an electrical connection to be made in the process of mechanically mating and aligning the body of a toy vehicle to its chassis thereby powering electronic features that are physically connected to the body with the power source which is housed in the chassis. When the body is properly aligned and mounted, the electrical interfaces are automatically established. There is no separate step of plugging together mating connectors where one connector extends from a wire bundle electrically interfacing with the body and the mating connector extends from a separate wire bundle electrically interfacing with the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Ridemakerz, LLC
    Inventors: Donald W. Amadio, James V. Mendillo, Yuk Kei Chan
  • Publication number: 20090130946
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a toy assembly system comprising a central compartment configured to house a plurality of toy bodies, each toy body having magnetic hubs arranged in an outer region of the body. The system can include outer compartments that house ferromagnetic outer components (e.g., ferromagnetic spheres) separate from the toy bodies and a release mechanism configured to release during a single operation a single toy body and a set of outer components, wherein the single toy body and the set of outer components self-assemble and automatically align. Another aspect provides a toy track system comprising a launch portion configured to magnetically retain the magnetic vehicle in a launch position, a release configured to release the vehicle from the launch position, and a track portion coupled to the launch portion and configured to guide the released vehicle along a predetermined path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: MEGA Brands International, S.A.R.L., Luxembourg, Zug Branch
    Inventors: STEVEN FINK, Neil Hamilton, Michael Hoeting, Yannick Poirier
  • Publication number: 20090036018
    Abstract: A toy vehicle set is provided having a toy automobile including an accessible compartment and defining an underside. A toy automobile component extends from the underside. A lift includes at least one post. The post engages the underside and a ground surface in a configuration to raise the toy automobile a predetermined distance from the ground surface such that the at least one toy automobile component is accessible for interaction during imaginative play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: JoAnn K. Woessner, Pamela L. Schwarte
  • Publication number: 20080254708
    Abstract: A toy vehicle design having two distinctly different methods to attach accessories. Accessories that attach to the front, sides, rear and bottom of the vehicle can connect to the chassis via a tab and slot system. Strategically positioned slots on the chassis undercarriage can accept tabs that extend from those accessories. The various accessories can be interchangeable and can be easily attached and removed without the need for tools. For front, side, rear and bottom fitting accessories, slots can be located along the outer perimeter of the vehicle chassis' undercarriage. The accept tabs can extend from the various accessories. Accessories that attach to the hood, roof and truck beds, magnets are built into the underside of the vehicle body with magnets of the opposite polarity attached to the inside of the accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: RETAIL ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPTS, LLC
    Inventors: Donald W. Amadio, James V. Mendillo, Yuk Kei Chan
  • Publication number: 20080242189
    Abstract: An intelligent toy for children includes a body and a pattern element. The body has a base, a stud, two rotating elements and two magnets. The base has an upper surface, a front section, a rear section, a front end face, a rear end face and a positioning channel. The positioning channel is defined longitudinally in the upper surface and has a bottom and a width. The stud is mounted on the bottom of the positioning channel. The rotating members are mounted rotatably on the front and rear sections of the base. The magnets are mounted respectively on the front and rear end faces of the base. The pattern element is mounted detachably on the base and has a positioning hole defined in the bottom surface of the pattern element and engaging the stud on the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Cheng-Hua Han
  • Publication number: 20080171486
    Abstract: A toy vehicle, a toy assembly device and a related method includes a toy body having a plurality of component members, and a plurality of support frame members respectively supporting the component members. The component members and the support frame members have respective engaging portions that can engage and disengage in a horizontal direction. Each of the support frame members has a fitting part provided thereon for connecting the support frame members to one another. Each of the component members has a fitting portion provided thereon for connecting the components members to one another. When the support frame members, each with a component member supported thereon, are connected to one another through the fitting parts, the component members are connected to one another by the fitting portions to form the toy body, so that the toy body can engage with or disengage from the support frame members connected to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicants: Tomy Company, Ltd., Tokyo Unique Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 6955580
    Abstract: A weight and method of providing mass for a model racing car is the subject of the present application. The weight is comprised of two portions. The first portion simulates the undercarriage of an automobile and the second portion comprises multiple components joined by lines of weakness. The multiple components of the second portion can be broken away to vary the total mass of the weight. The method comprises forming a weight having a first component of the configuration of an automobile undercarriage and a second component comprised of a plurality of sections joined by lines of weakness and the step of attaching the weight to the bottom of a model racing car. Portions of one of the components may be removed to vary the total mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Osment Models, Inc.
    Inventor: C. Dwayne Fulton
  • Patent number: 6773323
    Abstract: A toy element set for constructional toy includes square planar elements, each square planar element having a center through hole, coupling elements adapted to connect square planar elements on a plane or at right angles, and gears, each gear having a split shaft pivotally connectable to the through hole of one planar element, the diameter of the pitch circle of the gears being equal to the length of the diagonal of the planar elements, each gear having a spacer flange at the inner side around the shaft and adapted to space the gear face of the respective gear from the corresponding planar element upon installation of the respective gear in the planar element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: Te-Li Huang
  • Patent number: 6679750
    Abstract: A toy building set comprising at least one toy building element with a body part provided with coupling for interconnecting with other toy building elements, and a vehicle with a body that is provided with coupling for interconnecting with other toy building elements. The vehicle is provided with at least one wheel that is journalled on a shaft and that extends downwards from the vehicle body for abutment on a drive face. The wheel or wheels have a rolling face with varying distances from the shaft on which it is journalled such that a waving movement of the vehicle is obtained when it travels across a plane drive face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Interlego AG
    Inventor: Helle Kleist Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6637759
    Abstract: A transformable riding toy includes a frame having front, rear, and central portions with a seat for a child. The toy includes a canopy having a top panel and a plurality of legs coupled to the central portion of the frame. The canopy is removable from the frame for use as a table. The toy also includes a digger assembly mounted to the rear portion of the frame and having a bucket with wheels that is removable, the bucket being operative as a wagon when removed. The toy includes a front-end loader assembly coupled to the front portion of the frame and having a bucket with a removable panel, the front-end loader bucket being operative as a bench when removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Myra L. Jones
  • Patent number: 6616500
    Abstract: A toy building set comprising building elements with at least two side walls that define a width for the building elements and a top face with coupling studs arranged in parallel rows on the top face such that the rows are spaced apart. The building elements have a bottom with a cavity for receiving coupling studs on other building elements. The toy building set comprises a toy vehicle with wheels that are mounted in pairs on opposed sides of the vehicle. The wheels in each pair are arranged at such distance from each other that there is room for an integer multiple of rows of coupling studs between the wheels, and that both wheels in a pair can simultaneously be in rolling contact with a top side of the building element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Interlego AG
    Inventors: Rune Harms, Per Steen Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6595824
    Abstract: The disclosed educational snap-together toy vehicle system is exemplified in this application as a set of cars and trucks. The vehicles are broken down into four primary components: a main body, front clip, rear clip, and roof. The body parts are snapped together by a contrasting color, plastic three-element connector system consisting of: a fixed universal socket; an intermediate shaped-socket coupler; and a fixed shaped socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventors: Patrick M. Calello, Danilo I. Medina
  • Patent number: 6468128
    Abstract: In one embodiment a collapsible toy car is provided with a front top portion, a rear top portion, and two side portions is provided. The front top portion is pivotally attached to the rear top portion via a hinge. The two side portions are pivotally attached to the front and rear top portion via a front and rear pivot assembly, respectively. When assembled the front, rear and two side portions form an upright, operational position. When a force, however, is applied downwardly on the collapsible toy, the front, rear and two side portions collapse forming a substantially planar, collapsed configuration. A latch may be provided in order to retain the collapsible toy car in its collapsed configuration. Similarly, the latch may be released in various ways to permit the collapsible toy car to return to its operation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventors: Virginia M. Bala, Russell G. Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20020065018
    Abstract: A geometric construction system includes at least two substantially flat panels and at least a connecting rod. Each panel has a frame piece and a pair of cover sheets. The frame piece has side walls with side edges, each of which has a basin section, and further has an inner face defining a central opening. The inner face is formed with a flange that cooperates with the inner face to define a pair of retaining grooves. The connecting rod has at least two interconnected connecting portions, each of which is complementary to and is received in the basin section. The cover sheets are respectively and fittingly received in the retaining grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventor: Te-Li Huang
  • Toy
    Patent number: 6203393
    Abstract: A toy which includes a hollow spherical body is disclosed. The body is adapted to be dismantled into at least two parts. Component parts are included within the body. These component parts are adapted to be releasably fixed to the exterior of the body to modify the appearance of the body into a car, a truck, a helicopter, aircraft, spaceship, submarine or similar vehicle. A character may also be included within the spherical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: The All-Round Company Limited
    Inventor: John Flynn
  • Patent number: 6176755
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a toy vehicle and method of construction therefor involving the use of plastic bottles. Toy vehicles constructed according to the present invention are advantageous in that they educate children as to the importance of recycling at the same time they are being entertained by constructing and/or playing with the toy vehicles. Toy vehicles according to the present invention are constructed by coupling any of a plurality of simulated vehicular elements to a plastic bottle to produce any of a variety of simulated vehicles, including but not limited automobiles, motorcycles, sailboats, space ships, trains, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Dakota Science Center
    Inventors: Karen A. Bye, Lisa M. Nagle, Mark S. Neary, Jennifer M. Oliva
  • Patent number: 6155835
    Abstract: A base unit has a microprocessor onboard and is programmable via a keypad. A drive is operable in accordance with a program input into the microprocessor in order to provide motive power to move the movable element. The base unit may be derived from a telephone unit of conventional type, and have wheels/axles drivable in accordance with the microprossesor program. The base unit may serve as a base for a consructional toy (which may have elements driven by the axles) and functions as an educational aid to introduce basic computer programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Mumbles Science Adventure Limited
    Inventor: Andrew William Shercliff
  • Patent number: 5919072
    Abstract: A toy vehicle is fabricated from a plurality of construction toy elements which are commonly coupled by a plurality of interlockable couplers. The basic coupler mechanism utilizes a cube-like body having a plurality of extending flanges and supporting cylindrical bosses which are received within appropriately shaped slots in the various construction toy elements. A plurality of specialty elements are provided which facilitate the fabrication of a steering assembly for use on a toy vehicle or the like. The steering assembly employs a steering wheel having integral gear and a gear rack together with a plurality of pivoting couplers and a combination of interlocking couplers and construction toy elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: Joe K. Pohlman
  • Patent number: 5919077
    Abstract: A miniature vehicle and method for assembling one or more wheels on the vehicle which includes a chassis and a bodywork, wherein the method consists of introducing one end of a hub extending from a wheel through a stop element integrally formed with one of the chassis or the bodywork and maintaining the hub in position between opposing surfaces of the stop element. The vehicle produced is characterized in that each wheel is secured to a hub having an outer flange adapted to cooperate with the stop elements formed in one of the chassis and the bodywork in order to retain the hub against translation forces relative to an axis of a hub and wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Etablissements Maurice Charton
    Inventor: Pierre Gondcaille
  • Patent number: 5813894
    Abstract: A runnable block including a block body having a first engage projection and first engage recess respectively provided on the top and bottom surfaces of the block body, and four wheels rotatably attached to both sides of the block body via wheel shafts. A part of each wheel of this block protrudes farther downward than a lowermost surface including the lower engage section, and the diameter of each wheel is set approximately equal to the distance from the top of the first engage projection to the bottom of the first engage recess. As one block is coupled to another block by engaging the first engage projection of the former block to the first engage recess of the latter block, the wheels of both blocks mutually contact each other. This contact allows the rotation of one wheel to be transmitted to the other wheel, so that when the coupled blocks run, all the wheels of the blocks rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoru Tohyama
  • Patent number: 5427558
    Abstract: A toy building set element is formed of a first part and a second part which is slidable and resiliently journaled with respect to the first part. Both of the parts have coupling elements thereon which permit coupling of the parts to other elements of the toy building set. One of the parts may be adapted to receive a shaft through a cylindrical opening that runs perpendicular to the displacement direction of the parts with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Interlego AG
    Inventors: Jens N. Knudsen, Finn D. Madsen
  • Patent number: 5411428
    Abstract: A block unit for a block toy contains a block body having protrusions and recesses through which the block body is freely connectable to other block units; a rotary shaft rotatably supported in the block body in such a manner that the rotary shaft is extended in a block coupling direction in which the block unit is coupled to other block units through the protrusions and recesses thereof; and a rotation transmitting mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the rotary shaft to other block bodies coupled to the block unit body, the rotation transmitting mechanism provided at the ends of the rotary shaft, the rotation transmitting mechanism being freely connectable to rotation transmitting mechanism of other block units. The block unit may include a drive source such as an electric motor mounted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Makoto Orii, Katsuhiko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5312283
    Abstract: A set of similar interconnectable flexible toy construction blocks. Each block has three different attachment surfaces. Posts on a top surface connect within rims on a bottom surface for vertical stacking of the blocks. A projection on a front end connects within a complementally shaped receiver on a rear end for horizontal connecting of the blocks. An interior of the projection is complementally shaped to the posts on the top surface, allowing the front end of one block to connect to the top surface of another block. Each block has two directions of flexibility. Horizontal flexibility is provided by dividing the block into separate segments divided by gaps. Each gap is spanned by a thin web. The gaps can change shape when bending forces are applied, causing the block to flex horizontally. Vertical flexibility is provided by hollowing out each segment of the block through one surface, preferably the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Ronald L. Lyman
  • Patent number: 5310376
    Abstract: A toy that can be assembled by a child. At least one first block element consisting of a rod made of a flexible material including a fitting terminal at one end or opposite ends thereof is provided. The fitting terminal has at least one fitting projection thereon. A second block element has a plurality of fitting holes each adapted to be fitted onto one of the fitting projections. The first block element and the second block element are combined with each other during an assembling operation so as to exhibit a desired three dimensional configuration. Each fitting terminal is provided with a plurality of fitting projections projecting from the outer surface of the fitting terminal so that the fitting projections can be selectively fitted into one of the fitting holes on the second block element. The rod constituting the first block element is composed of a plastically deformable core and a flexible sheath molded of a soft synthetic resin surrounding the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Combi Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Mayuzumi, Jun Kawahara, Tatsuo Nakamata
  • Patent number: 5186672
    Abstract: A multipurpose block toy comprised of a set of blocks, a set of connecting rods and a set of rollers, wherein said blocks can be separately used in playing the game of domino effect or the game of teaching and learning; said blocks, said connecting rods and said rollers can be simultaneously used in playing the game of building and the game of domino effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Inventor: Chen C. Tung
  • Patent number: 5137485
    Abstract: A construction set for toys and like objects includes pluralities of different basic components. The basic components are a main strut member, an auxiliary strut member, an articulated strut member, an inline connector member, a panel member, and a wheel member. All components, except the panel member, can form identical connection joints with one another anywhere on multiple sides of the components. The panel member has main and auxiliary projections along opposite edges and protuberances mounted on one side of the panel on the main and auxiliary projections. The wheel member has inner and outer rings mounted to one another for relative rotation. The inner ring of the wheel member can receive one of the main strut members in an interfitted relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Inventor: V. John Penner
  • Patent number: 5083969
    Abstract: In a model vehicle having a door assembly attached by a pivot bearing to a body including a door sill delimiting a doorway, it is desirable that the pivot bearing should be situated within the doorway permit easy installation and combine simple construction with strength to withstand rough usage. This object is achieved in that a metallic pivot pin attached to a door sill within the doorway projects with its free end upwardly from the door sill and in that a bearing cavity receiving the pivot pin is formed by the door assembly itself. The pivot bearing provided is of simple construction, easy to install and capable of withstanding stresses other than caused by normal opening and closing of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Fritz Wagener GmbH
    Inventor: Claus Wagener